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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

[4.50/10] Creation (2009)


Creation (2009)

I'm sorry to say Jon Amiel's piece doesn't ignite. "Creation" is boring and uninteresting. It should be good. It has moments that suggest it will be good, but it just isn't. This is not a film about evolution. It's a film about a depressed ill man who's haunted by his past. Whilst this is not necessarily a bad topic for a film, it is just a bad topic for this. "Creation" consists entirely of melodramatic and long family scenes with overloud music at which one is beholden to cry. The portrayal of Darwin's hallucinations and the flash-backs, which taken alone were tedious, and together ranged between silly and infuriating. Bettany and Connelly are both very good, and one can understand that they were attracted to the project by the opportunity to work together while doing some serious acting, and it isn't their fault that the movie concentrates on an area of their lives which, frankly, isn't that interesting. Technically, the film is quite exquisite. Stunning art direction by Laurence Dorman places us in the early 1800's. Darwin's residence is quite the striking eye-candy. Costumes and make-up are excellent and also help to connect the viewer to a particular time in history. With its dull script, tedious pacing and unengaging story, "Creation" is completely forgettable and immeasurably disappointing.

  • My Rating: 4.50/10
  • Rotten Tomatoes: 46% (5.5/10)
  • IMDb: 6.8/10

7 comments:

DEZMOND said...

as much as I adore Paul Bettany, I can't stand the trio of cold actresses in Hollywood (Jennifer Connelly, Natalie Portman, Keira Knightley) so I must admit I've never planned to watch this, although I love period dramas.

George Beremov [Nebular] said...

I totally disagree about Natalie Portman! I don't find her cold or stiff at all. There's nothing forced in her acting and she's so naturally beautiful. Love period dramas too, as Ang Lee's "Sense and Sensibility" being my favorite.

DEZMOND said...

oh, no, Natalie's role in STAR WARS wasn't at all an epitome of coldness and stiffness [evil ironic smile] :)

George Beremov [Nebular] said...

If Natalie was cold in "Star Wars" then Hayden Christensen was a f**kin' piece of ice :) He might be handsome, but he's terrible, terrible actor!

DEZMOND said...

oh, he is cold too, he is colder than an iceberg, although a very cute iceberg :)
I actually couldn't believe her and his acting in the last sequel, it was just so artificial, as if they were mocking themselves. The scenes when he and Ewan have a sword fight at the end, on a fiery planet, after he became Dart Wader was just sooooo ridiculous because of Hayden's acting, that I couldn't believe they'd put it in the film. Natalie's scenes in the senate and at Naboo were equally horrible and lame. I'm actually not sure, what was Ewan McGregor, as great as he is, looking for in that movie.

George Beremov [Nebular] said...

Believe it or not, I was thinking the same, while I was watching this scene! It's one of these cases, when I feel embarrassed for other people's behaviour /in this case acting/, instead of the people themselves. Do you know what I mean? :) Hayden's acting is laughably awful and it seems we both agree on that ;)

DEZMOND said...

yes, I often (almost everyday) feel ashamed and embarassed of other people's behavior (usually watching reality shows, sport fans, politicians and music stars).
I think even JarJar Binks had a better performance that Hayden in the movie :P